Kubota V1505 Diesel: 1975 MG Midget
This next car comes as a tip from JPT, who writes: Diesel Midget? Diesel Midget! I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or look for loose change in my sofa. Maybe someone else does! Okay, who puts a Kubota diesel engine from a piece of farm equipment into an MG that was originally powered by a farm-ready engine from Morris Garage? Oh yeah, that crazy Beetle had a Kubota in the back, but otherwise, industrial diesel engines don’t get much love in the automotive world for some good reasons. Find this 1975 MG Midget offered for $10,000 in San Leandro, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1975 MG midget
condition: good
fuel: diesel
odometer: 80,000
paint color: yellow
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: convertible
1975 MG Midget New Diesel Kubota V1505 Engine and Rebuilt Toyota T50 5-spd overdrive transmission that shifts smoother and better than the original MG transmission. The transmission adapter plate was machined from a billet plate of 6061 T-6 aircraft grade aluminum. New Clutch, New Drive Shaft, Rebuilt Toyota Rear end, New Brakes Rotor Calipers Hoses, New Brake and Clutch Master Cylinders New Front Control Arms performance sway bar New Radiator and Silicone Hoses New Fuel System Fuel Tank, Racor fuel filter New Exhaust System, New seats, Seat Belts, Door Panels, Door Handles, New Emblems, New Toyo Tires, New GPS speedometer with matching Tachometer. Car was professional painted. There are lots of new parts on this car not mentioned Driven 1400 miles since all the work has been done. The original speedometer read around 80,000 California Car no Rust. I have the original metal frame for the top that is in GOOD condition. But the rest of the top will need to be replaced. Engine compartment is very clean. I have more pictures if needed. Buyer pays and arranges for shipping and also responsible for taxes.
See a better way to drive mustard? tips@dailyturismo.com
I think the bigger question here is why/how the person that built this chose this motor. Specs look like peak HP 44.3 @ 3k and TQ 87.5 @ 2k. Probably scoots off the line better than original, but still why?
My guess is they found one crazy cheap. I have seen a few of these farm side by sides at the junk yard and the guy there pretty much wanted to give the parts away because they were not in his car based system so he had no idea their value.
My other thought was I bet the MG weighs less than the Kubota.
Now, all it needs is one of those 6″ dia chromed vertical exhaust chimneys and some detuning to make the most idiotic coal roller on Planet(black)Earth.
Compelling – or it’s compelling in the sense that the ad says so little about the thought processes that birthed this intriguing mashup of a car. What’s the MPG? What does it sound like when idling or at full throttle? Which spec version of the V1505 engine was used? Did it gain or weight in this transformation?